Concept of Stress Management in Ayurveda

In this time most of people has their busy schedule form morning to late night. All these complexion ultimately leads  to Physical and Mental stresses. Ayurveda brings about the balance between our Physical & Mental aspects and helps us to remain naturally beautiful. As the Stress builds up, we move towards the Lack of Confidence and a feeling of Inferiority becomes a part of our Life.

Since Times immemorable, Ayurveda has been advocating many Rejuvenating Recopies for Improving & Maintaining Good Health, which leads to a Normal and Happy Life thus improving the deficiencies without any side effects.

Mental Stress :Mental stress, according to ayurveda, is caused by an overuse or misuse of the mind.

Emotional Stress: Emotional stress can be caused by a problem in a relationship, the loss of a relative, or any situation that might hurt the heart.

Physical Stress :Physical stress is caused by misuse or overuse of the body, such as exercising too much or working for extended periods at a job that is physically taxing.

A lifestyle based in harmony is a stress –free lifestyle. Ayurveda applies its principles to both the mind and the body. Though the practices of meditation and yoga, Ayurveda helps a person expand their perception of themselves and how they relate to the world around them. While so many people are plagued with fear, anger, anxiety and / or depression, Ayurveda helps people to come to the realization that life can be and is beautiful!

Ayurvedic lifestyle begins with an understanding who one’s constitutionⁱ. This is the inherent balance of the three doshas (biological energies) determined at the moment of conception. Each person’s constitution defines their uniqueness. Ayurveda understands that nothing is right for everyone and everything is right for someone. Ayurveda is non-dogmatic. Each person’s path toward health and harmony are is unique. Ayurveda is the path of finding out what is right for the individual. This path includes learning to live harmoniously through each of the five senses.

Hence, through diet, aromatherapy, color therapy, sound therapy and touch (massage) therapy along with yoga and meditation, Ayurvedic practitioners slowly guide their patients back to living in harmony with their true nature. Success on this path takes time and patience but pays great rewards.

Along the way, Ayurvedic practitioners utilize their vast knowledge of herbalism to support the process and allieviate suffering. Stress reducing herbs are called nervine sedatives and include herbs such as valerian root, jatamamsi, shankha pushpi and thousands of others found throughout the world. More importantly, the Ayurvedic pharmacopia includes an understanding of rasayanas or rejuvenatives. These special herbs build up the bodies resistance to stress and increases its endurance. These herbs are especially beneficial to those who are highly sensitive to stress. These herbs include ashwaganda, bala and amalaki and many others.

Providing understanding and guidelines for balance in body, mind and spirit, Ayurveda gives us Panchakarma Therapy as well as herbal healthcare to maintain the ‘Tridoshas’ in balance throughout our mind and body.

Pancha Karma therapies has been used for centuries in the Ayurvedic management of disease. Pancha Karma is the process which gets to the root cause of the problem and corrects the essential balance of ‘Tridosha’ in body.The therapies specific for Stress conditions are Shiroabhyanga, Shirodhara, Shirovasti, and Abhyanga.

The drug used in the treatment are mostly medhya drugs or medhya rasayanas which are believed to act as specific molecular nutrients for the brain affording a better mental health leading in turn to alleviation of the behavioral alteration and to cope up day to day stress. The herbs of adaptogenic properties are Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Brahmi (bacopa monniera), Shankh pushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis), Vacha (Acorus calamus), Yashtimadhu (Glycrrhiza glabra), Guduchi(Tinospora cordifolia), Amalaki (Embelica officinalis) etc.

Yoga – Progressive deep relaxation , i.e., Shavasana (Corpse posture) brings about a relaxed state of mind and practicing it daily is very useful in reducing stress. Daily practice of ‘Yoganidra’ is also useful for making your mind calm and tension free.